Type II endoleak with or without intervention after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair does not change aneurysm-related outcomes despite sac growth.

OBJECTIVE: There is considerable controversy about the significance and appropriate treatment of type II endoleaks (T2Ls) after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). We report our long-term experience with T2L management in a large multicenter registry. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2010, 1736 patients underwent EVAR, and we recorded the incidence of T2L. Primary outcomes were mortality and aneurysm-related mortality (ARM). Secondary outcomes were change in aneurysm sac size, major adverse events, and reintervention. RESULTS: During the follow-up (median of 32.2 months; interquartile range, 14.2-52.8 months), T2L was identified in 474 patients (27.3%). There were no late abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptures attributable to a T2L. Overall mortality (P = .47) and ARM (P = .26) did not differ between patients with and without T2L. Sac growth (median, 5 mm; interquartile range, 2-10 mm) was seen in 213 (44.9%) of the patients with T2L. Of these patients with a T2L and sac growth, 36 (16.9%) had an additional type of endoleak. Of all patients with T2L, 111 (23.4%) received reinterventions, including 39 patients who underwent multiple procedures; 74% of the reinterventions were performed in patients with sac growth. Reinterventions included lumbar embolization in 66 patients (59.5%), placement of additional stents in 48 (43.2%), open surgical revision in 14 (12.6%), and direct sac injection in 22 (19.8%). The reintervention was successful in 35 patients (31.5%). After patients with other types of endoleak were excluded, no difference in overall all-cause mortality (P = .57) or ARM (P = .09) was observed between patients with T2L-associated sac growth who underwent reintervention and those in whom T2L was left untreated. CONCLUSIONS: In our multicenter EVAR registry, overall all-cause mortality and ARM were unaffected by the presence of a T2L. Moreover, patients who were simply observed for T2L-associated sac growth had aneurysm-related outcomes similar to those in patients who underwent reintervention. Our future work will investigate the most cost-effective ways to select patients for intervention besides sac growth alone.

Adherence to endovascular aortic aneurysm repair device instructions for use guidelines has no impact on outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Prior reports have suggested unfavorable outcomes after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) performed outside of the recommended instructions for use (IFU) guidelines. We report our long-term EVAR experience in a large multicenter registry with regard to adherence to IFU guidelines. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2010, 489 of 1736 patients who underwent EVAR had preoperative anatomic measurements obtained from the M2S, Inc, imaging database (West Lebanon, NH). We examined outcomes in these patients with regard to whether they had met the device-specific IFU criteria. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and aneurysm-related mortality. Secondary outcomes were endoleak status, adverse events, reintervention, and aneurysm sac size change. RESULTS: The median follow-up for the 489 patients was 3.1 years (interquartile range, 1.6-5.0 years); 58.1% (n = 284) had EVAR performed within IFU guidelines (IFU-adherent group), and 41.9% (n = 205) had EVAR performed outside of IFU guidelines (IFU-nonadherent group). Preoperative anatomic data showed that 62.4% of the IFU-nonadherent group had short neck length, 10.2% had greater angulation than recommended, 7.3% did not meet neck diameter criteria, and 20% had multiple anatomic issues. A small portion (n = 49; 10%) of the 489 patients were lost to follow-up because of leaving membership enrollment (n = 28), moving outside the region (n = 10), or discontinuing image surveillance (n = 11). There was no significant difference in any of the primary or secondary outcomes between the IFU-adherent and IFU-nonadherent groups. Aneurysm sac size change at any time point during follow-up also did not differ significantly between the two groups. A Cox proportional hazard model showed that IFU nonadherence was not predictive of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.0; P = .91). Similarly, IFU nonadherence was not identified as a risk factor for aneurysm-related mortality or adverse events in stepwise Cox proportional hazards models. CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of EVAR patients with detailed preoperative anatomic information and long-term follow-up, overall mortality and aneurysm-related mortality were unaffected by IFU adherence. In addition, rates of endoleak and reintervention after initial EVAR were similar, suggesting that lack of IFU-based anatomic suitability was not a driver of outcomes.

The underestimated risk of cancer in patients with multinodular goiters after a benign fine needle aspiration.

IMPORTANCE: Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) is an excellent tool for evaluating patients with solitary thyroid nodules, with a false-negative malignancy rate of <3%. The utility of FNA in patients with a cervical multinodular goiter (MNG) is unknown, because biopsy and surveillance of thyroids with numerous nodules may be impractical. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for unsuspected thyroid cancer on final pathology in patients with a non-functional, cervical MNG who had a benign preoperative FNA and underwent thyroidectomy. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective review of patients with non-functional, cervical MNG at a high-volume tertiary referral center between 2005 and 2012. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Incidence of thyroid cancer on surgical pathology. RESULTS: Of the 134 patients included in the study, 31 (23.1%) were found to have thyroid cancer on final pathology. Twenty-one (15.7%) patients had a microscopic papillary cancer (<1 cm) and 10 (7.5%) patients had other forms of thyroid cancer [five follicular, four papillary (>1 cm), and one patient with a papillary and follicular cancer]. On univariate analysis, male gender had a near-significant association with non-micropapillary thyroid cancer (p = 0.06). On multivariate analysis, male gender (OR = 10.2, 95% CI 1.35-76.8) and FNA cytology not reviewed at our institution (OR = 6.0, 95% CI 1.2-30) were independently associated with non-micropapillary thyroid cancer. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The incidence of thyroid cancer in patients with MNG and benign FNA is significant. Men and patients in whom the FNA cytology is not reviewed by an experienced cytopathologist may be at an increased risk for an undetected thyroid cancer.

Unanticipated thyroid cancer in patients with substernal goiters: are we underestimating the risk?

BACKGROUND: The rate of unexpected thyroid cancers found at the time of thyroidectomy is thought to be similar in patients with cervical and substernal multinodular goiters (MNGs). METHODS: The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of undiagnosed cancer found in patients undergoing a thyroidectomy for a cervical or substernal MNG. We conducted a review of patients with a preoperative diagnosis of an MNG (both cervical and substernal) at a tertiary referral center between 2005 and 2012. RESULTS: We identified 538 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for an MNG (144 with substernal MNGs and 394 with cervical MNGs). Patients with substernal MNGs were older (59.6 vs. 52.3; p < 0.001), more likely to be men (34 vs. 11.1 %; p < 0.001), and less likely to have a history of radiation exposure to the neck (2.1 vs. 12.4 %; p < 0.001). Thyroid cancer (>1 cm) was found in 13.7 % of substernal MNG specimens and in 6.3 % of cervical MNG specimens (p = 0.003). On multivariate analysis, substernal location [odds ratio (OR) = 2.360; confidence interval (CI), 1.201-4.638] was the only variable independently associated with an unexpected thyroid cancer on surgical pathology. CONCLUSION: The rate of postoperatively discovered thyroid cancer is significant in patients with substernal MNGs and is increased when compared to patients with cervical MNGs. Surgeons should counsel their patients regarding the possibility of this unexpected result.

Early and delayed rupture after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in a 10-year multicenter registry.

OBJECTIVE: Rupture after abdominal endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a function of graft maintenance of the seal and fixation. We describe our 10-year experience with rupture after EVAR. METHODS: From 2000 to 2010, 1736 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) from 17 medical centers underwent EVAR in a large, regional integrated health care system. Preoperative demographic and clinical data of interest were collected and stored in our registry. We retrospectively identified patients with postoperative rupture, characterized as "early" and "delayed" rupture (≤30 days and >30 days after the initial EVAR, respectively), and identified predictors associated with delayed rupture. RESULTS: The overall follow-up rate was 92%, and the median follow-up was 2.7 years (interquartile range, 1.2-4.4 years) in these 1736 EVAR patients. We identified 20 patients with ruptures; 70% were male, the mean age was 79 years, and mean AAA size at the initial EVAR was 6.3 cm. Six patients underwent initial EVAR for rupture (n = 2) or symptomatic presentation (n = 4). Of the 20 post-EVAR ruptures, 25% (five of 20) were early, all occurring within 2 days after the initial EVAR. Of these five patients, four had intraoperative adverse events leading directly to rupture, with one type I and one type III endoleak. Of the five early ruptures, four patients underwent endovascular repair and one received repair with open surgery, resulting in two perioperative deaths. Among the remaining 15 patients, the median time from initial EVAR to rupture was 31.1 months (interquartile range, 13.8-57.3 months). Most of these delayed ruptures (10 of 15) were preceded by AAA sac increases, including three patients with known endoleaks who underwent reintervention. At the time of delayed rupture, nine of 15 patients had new endoleaks. Among all 20 patients, six patients did not undergo repair (all delayed patients) and died, nine underwent repeated EVAR, and five had open repair. For patients who underwent repair for delayed rupture, mortality at 30 days and 1 year were 44.4% and 66.7%, respectively. Multivariable Cox regression analysis identified age 80 to 89 (hazard ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-9.4; P = .03), and symptomatic or ruptured initial indication for EVAR (hazard ratio, 7.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-24.8; P < .01) as significant predictors of delayed rupture. CONCLUSIONS: Rupture after EVAR is a rare but devastating event, and mortality after repair exceeds 60% at 1 year. Most delayed cases showed late AAA expansion, thereby implicating late loss of seal and increased endoleaks as the cause of rupture in these patients and mandating vigilant surveillance.

Ultrasound-guided methylene blue dye injection for parathyroid localization in the reoperative neck.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to review a single institution's experience using intraoperative ultrasound-guided (ioUSG) methylene blue dye injection for the localization and removal of enlarged parathyroid glands in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and a history of previous neck surgery. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of nine consecutive patients who underwent reoperative parathyroidectomy using ioUSG methylene blue dye injection. RESULTS: All patients had successful resolution of their hyperparathyroidism, with at least a 50 % decrease in intraoperative parathyroid hormone level after resection. One patient had transient recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis. There were no permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries or cases of permanent hypoparathyroidism. CONCLUSIONS: Blue dye injection is a safe and effective method of localizing diseased parathyroid glands in the reoperative neck.

Comparison of accuracy of 14-, 18- and 20-G needles in ex-vivo renal mass biopsy: a prospective, blinded study.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively determine the accuracy of 14-, 18- and 20-G core needle biopsies to render the appropriate histological diagnosis of solid, enhancing renal masses, using a controlled, ex-vivo biopsy technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From March 2007 to September 2007, 31 patients undergoing partial or radical nephrectomy were randomly selected for biopsy. After extirpative surgery, three ex-vivo biopsies were taken from each lesion with 14-, 18- and 20-G biopsy needles. One experienced genitourinary pathologist, unaware of patient identifiers and final pathology results, determined the biopsy histology and tumour grade, based on standard haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) techniques and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The final pathological evaluation classified 21 masses (68%) as clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC), three (10%) as papillary RCC, three (10%) as chromophobe RCC, three (10%) as oncocytoma and one (3%) as a benign lymphoid infiltrate. The biopsy histology correlated with the final pathology in 29/31 cases (94%) with the 14-G, 30/31 cases (97%) with the 18-G and 25/31 cases (81%) with the 20-G needles. In two cases chromophobe RCC was misdiagnosed with oncocytoma, and vice versa. CONCLUSION: In this study a minimum of an 18-G biopsy needle was the most accurate in determining the histological diagnosis. Clear cell and papillary RCCs were accurately diagnosed on biopsy using an 18-G, whereas oncocytoma and chromophobe RCC were difficult to differentiate using standard H&E techniques and immunohistochemistry.

Predictors of outcomes after pediatric liver transplantation: an analysis of more than 800 cases performed at a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric liver transplantation (PLTx) is the standard of care for treatment of liver failure in children. Unfortunately, there are few studies with substantial numbers of patients that identify outcomes predictors. The goal of this study was to determine factors that influence outcomes in a large, single-center cohort of PLTx. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective review between 1984 to 2006 included all recipients 18 years of age and younger undergoing PLTx. Multiorgan graft recipients were excluded (n = 48). Data sources included transplantation center database and hospital medical records. Outcomes measures were overall patient and graft survival. Demographic, laboratory, and perioperative variables were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis was undertaken using log-rank test and Cox's proportional hazards model. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant at the multivariate level. RESULTS: Eight hundred fifty-two PLTx were performed in 657 children; 55% were girls, 45% were Hispanic, and median age was 29.5 months. Biliary atresia and acute liver failure were the most common causes of liver disease. Fifty-two percent were hospitalized before PLTx. Graft types were whole (75%) and segmental (25%). Indications for re-PLTx (n = 195) included graft nonfunction (22%), immunologic (34%), and vascular complications (35%). Overall 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 85%, 81%, and 78% (patient), and 78%, 72%, and 67% (graft). Independent significant predictors of worse patient survival were renal function, pretransplantation ventilator dependence, and causes of liver disease. Independent significant predictors of worse graft survival were renal function and warm ischemia time. CONCLUSIONS: As one of the largest, single-center analyses of PLTx, this study enables accurate statistical analysis and demonstrates excellent longterm outcomes. Independent prognosticators of graft survival were renal function and warm ischemia time, and those for patient survival were renal function, mechanical ventilation, and causes of liver disease. These factors can aid in the medical decision making required for optimal use of scarce donor organs.

DARPP-32-like immunoreactivity in AII amacrine cells of rat retina.

Previous studies demonstrated that the dopamine- and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-regulated phosphatase inhibitor known as "DARPP-32" is present in rat, cat, monkey, and human retinas. We have followed up these studies by asking what specific cell subtypes contain DARPP-32. Using a polyclonal antibody directed against a peptide sequence of human DARPP-32, we immunostained adult rat retinas that were either transretinally sectioned or flat mounted and found DARPP-32-like immunoreactivity in some cells of the amacrine cell layer across the entire retinal surface. We report here, based on the shape and spatial distribution of these cells, their staining by an anti-parvalbumin antibody, and their juxtaposition with processes containing tyrosine hydroxylase, that DARPP-32-like immunoreactivity is present in AII amacrine cells of rat retina. These results suggest that the response of AII amacrine cells to dopamine is not mediated as simply as previously supposed.